The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
The Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) will be the biggest spacecraft to ever orbit Mars. The spacecraft will also be the first interplanetary spacecraft to rendezvous and capture a man-made object launched from another planet and return it to the Earth’s surface, making a full round trip to Mars and back. ERO is a multi-stage modular spacecraft equipped with both chemical and solar electric propulsion. The electric propulsion system will be the most powerful ever flown on any previous planetary mission. Onboard ERO will be a radiation monitor that will measure the total radiation dose experienced by the spacecraft throughout the entire mission, which in addition to monitoring the health of ERO could provide important information on how to design systems for future human explorers. Launch is planned in 2027, entering into Mars orbit in 2029.